Trips to the Amazon Jungle
Should you wish to organize a trip to the Amazon jungle for a small group or individual journey please contact me and we can see what can be facilitated for you. These trips will have a healing, personal discovery element and can also include visits to Shibipo tribes and Ayahausca ceremonies should you wish.
I will happy to guide excursions to the jungle areas of Iquitos and beyond with the help of local visionary artists who are familiar with the terrain and also overland journeys to the Pulcalpa region of peru where you can visit Shipibo tribes and take the river to cantamana where you can visit the lush jungle ares of Aquas calientes and Aquas frio (the union of the hot and cold streams) on the Ucayali River, unforgettable nourishing experience in unspoilt jungle.
VISIT THE GUACAMAYO CLAY LICKS AT CONTAMANA
Another destination which is wonderfully exciting is a visit to the Guacamayo (Macaw), clay licks of Contamana. Contamana is a days boat ride from pulcallpa on the ucayali River, a unique experience in itself ! Contamana is a friendly welcoming town where you will stay over night before heading into the jungle experience and sulpher baths of Aquas Calientes and Aquas frio (the union of the hot and cold waters), where you can literally boil your eggs for breakfast in the morning, I did and bathe in the refreshing waters daily while immersing yourself in the sounds of the surrounding jungle. Blue Morpho butterflies shimmy past and may even tantilisingly dance on your colourful bathing suit thinking perhaps you are a fellow mate !
IQUITOS AND PACAYA SAMIRIA NATIONAL RESERVE
Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve is located in Peru's Amazon region, 100 miles west from Iquitos. The Reserve is a triangular shaped area between the Maranon and Ucayali rivers. These rivers intersect at the north eastern tip of the Reserve, marking the beginning of what is considered the Amazon River proper. Most visitors access Pacaya-Samiria through the nearby city of Iquitos.
The Reserve was established in the 1940s to protect the largest fresh-water fish, the paiche, Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve now protects the entire Pacaya-Samiria watershed, it's the largest protected area in Peru. Pacaya-Samiria accounts for almost 2 percent of Peru’s land area. It is home to over 100,000 people within its boundaries and over 600,000 people in nearby areas use its resources.
Animal and plant life is abundant and extremely varied in the reserve. There are over 132 species of mammals, 13 of which are primates.
The waters of the reserve are home to
- Gray and pink dolphins
- Amazonian manatees,
- Giant river Otters
- Black caimans
- White caimen
- Giant South American River Turtles.
- Land species include Jaguars
- Capuchin Monkey
- Spider Monkeys
- The Black Spider Monkey
- The Orange-chested Spider Monkey
- The Woolly Monkey
- The Howler Monkey
For people that like a real experiential approach to nature and the environment. Wild adventure and amazing experiences are awaiting you.
One Day Trip
07:00 am
Two Day Trip (2 days and one night)
We will return you to your hotel or hostel in iquitos.
Additional days onto the trip will take us deeper and deeper into the reserve, visiting yarina village, Soledad and further to el Dorado, depending on how many days we will be travelling. Each day will bring extra diversity and experiences. the further you travel into the Reserve the more wild life and bird life you wil encounter. We will camp out in the jungle or stay in the villages or lodges along the way. Mosquito nets and tents are supplied and it is my wish to make the trip as comfortable as possible. Trips are designed to bring you close to nature where you will experience the sounds of the jungle against its vast and awe inspiring background of silence. The intense silence of the jungle is like nothing you will have experienced, it is a realm that can but you deeply in touch with your own spirit.
Iquitos Tour
Quistococha and /or Bellevista Village, Butterfly Farm etc.
Iquitos is a city of delights and contradictions. Its noise and colour and energy are unique. Allow me to guide you around the city and show you the different flavours accompanied by our bi-lingual guides. Especially on the first visit to iquitos it is advisable to take a guide with you to help you familiarize yourself with the place and with your surroundings. As with any big city, population 500,000, there are places that are unsafe but generally you will find Iquitos to be a friendly city full of life and fun and diversity. For a city that has no road into it, ( Iquitos can only be reached from the outside world by air or river), it is a vibrantly alive experience.
If you book an excursion with me, I can either arrange to meet you at your hotel or arrange a pick up from the airport. Pick up at the airport can be a godsend as often you are hassled by so many taxi and motocaro drivers looking for your business.
For city excursions I will meet at your hotel. We will depart in a taxi or on foot to the main square, and hear the history of Iquitos, see the Eiffel house, boulevard in Malecon Tarapaca, visit the Amazon Museum, then visit the floating village and Belen market, after this we have two choices:
The Pilpintuwasi Butterfly Farm is the only butterfly farm in Peru - and the farm is included on select guided tours. Butterfly farms in tropical rainforest areas are increasingly becoming another important factor contributing to a greater understanding of rainforests and their conservation.
More than 40 species of the most colorful (and least dangerous) insects of the Amazon thrive at Pilpintuwasi. Visitors learn about the problems with finding a host plant for each caterpillar, the life cycle of butterflies, problems with predators, etc.
At Pilpintuwasi, you will see the rearing of the giant blue Morphos, Helicons, Owl Moths, Swallow tails and many others.
The above itinery constitutes a whole days schedule where you will have your own Personal Guide and lunch.
More info to follow and photos....
